Thursday, March 19, 2015

First let me thank you all for your devoted support of Simply Blessed Gifts and Services. You have shown this business much love since we opened our doors in 2013. In the last two years, I have had a few tough decisions to make regarding changes to the business, but these decisions were necessary to ensure that the business stays in step with the call of the Holy Spirit and so that it evolves with the spiritual needs of our clients. When I contemplated opening this business, my motivation was simple: use what spiritual gifts God has given me to bring help and healing to those who need it without the limitations placed by any specific religious doctrine. I wanted to create a place where spiritual wholeness was the goal, regardless of a person’s religious background.

I envisioned a place where people could come for spiritual guidance and natural healing. I wanted to especially create a place where those who have experienced loss through the death of someone special could come and find hope through re-connection with those who have passed away. My faith has taught me that when a person dies, their spirit lives on and will continue to love and guide us. God has blessed me with the ability to connect again with those loved ones, so my ministry has focused on giving people the space to find their loved ones again.

It was never my intention to open a retail store…this function of Simply Blessed was initially the responsibility of other partners in the business. In the two years since we have opened, our retail sales represented only a very small percentage of our business. Because this portion of the business has never fully supported itself, I have made the necessary decision to close what you have known as “Simply Blessed Gifts and Services” effective April 30, 2015 so that I can devote my full energies to the mission God has given me.

On June 8, 2015 we will re-open as Simply Blessed Spiritual Wellness Center.

What will change?Our focus will become spiritual and holistic healing. Our new staff of service providers will offer an array of spiritual and holistic healing modalities including

Reiki healing

Ayurvedic Healing

Naturopathy

Herbalism

Aromatherapy

Licensed massage therapy

Reflexology

Yoga therapy

Kundalini healing

Shamanic healing

Dream healing

Life-coaching

Crystal energy work

Spiritual direction

Christian Gospel-based life coaching

Sound Healing

We will begin providing services and workshops geared towards helping our clients live what we call the Simply Blessed Lifestyle which we believe will bring clients peace, healing, and spiritual wholeness.

Simply Blessed Spiritual Wellness Center will focus its efforts on five principle areas:

Helping Clients to let go of worry to achieve their life goals

Helping Clients to let go of anger to achieve peace and reconciliation

Helping clients to remember and honor their loved ones who have passed away and heal any wounds to those relationships caused through loss

Helping Clients to discover their true selves so that they can live their true calling in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment while walking their chosen spiritual path

Helping Clients to connect with their spirit so that they can live happy and healthy lives by taking power over their lives, setting their own course, and living a lifestyle of natural self-healing

We will accomplish these objectives through several new initiatives:

The Simply Blessed Lifestyle ProgramMany of our clients come to Simply Blessed for an array of services and workshops. These clients have experienced an awakening of some kind and wish to develop their spiritual skills to foster deeper awakening through all that we have to offer. The Simply Blessed Lifestyle Program is a monthly membership package designed to make it more affordable for clients to take advantage of all that we have to offer without having to pay full price for individual services. Simply Blessed Lifestyle members will be able to choose a package that gives them four services each month with any available provider, two monthly workshops, and one group reiki healing and mediation night.

The Simply Blessed Mind Body Spirit CoursesWhen clients come to Simply Blessed Spiritual Wellness Center, our goal is to help you wade through the mystery of various approaches to energy healing without the superstition, so that you can make informed decisions when creating your spiritual life path. We will offer three certification courses designed to give the student a foundation in each of the three functional areas of holistic healing. These courses will give the student a basic understanding of the various approaches to Holistic Healing. Each of these courses will run for six months. Course One: Mind ApproachesTopics covered:o Psychological Viewpoint

Mind/Brain connection

The unconscious

Dreams and Dream interpretation

Basic Psychological Types

Basic behaviorism

Cognitive behavioral approach and mindfulness

Neuro-linguistic programming

Guided visualization

Hypnotherapy

Transcendental states

o Psychic Viewpoint

Intuition, precognition, premonition

Psychic skills

Out-of-body experiences and astral work

Divination

o Mind/Matter Viewpoint

Kundalini

Meditation

Breathwork

Biofeedback

Neurobiology of emotion

Energy therapies

Course Two: Body ApproachesTopics covered:o From the east

Ayurveda approach

Traditional Chinese Medicine approach

Tibetan Medicine approach

o Body Energy Approaches

Yoga

Pilates

T’ai Chi

Alexander Technique

Acupressure

Reflexology

Chiropractic and osteopathy

Craniosacral treatment

Bowen Technique

Rolfing

Bates method

o Natural Lifestyle Approaches

Naturopathy

Vitamins and Minerals

Superfoods

Macrobiotics

Fasting and detoxing

Herbalism

o Energy Approaches

Aromatherapy

Flower Essences

Homeopathy

Color Therapy

Sound Therapy

Crystal Healing

Applied kinesiology

Polarity therapy

Chakra and aura work

Reiki

Spiritual Healing

Course Three: Spiritual ApproachesTopics covered:o Western Faiths

Mystery Traditions

Judaism

Kabbalah

Christianity

Gnostic Gospels

Spiritualism

Islam

Sufism

o Eastern Faiths

Hinduism

Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism

Zen Buddhism

Tantra

Taoism

Confucianism

Jainism

Sikhism

o Shamanic and Tribal Faiths

Shamanism

Aboriginal Spirituality

Oceania

Native American beliefs

African Traditions

Shinto

Paganism

Druidry

o Earth-based traditions

Feng Shui

Sacred Geometry

Megaliths

Landscape lines

Green path spirituality

o Secret Societies

Knights Templar

Rosicrucian

Illuminati

Freemasonry

Theosophy

o Mystery Schools

Atlantis theory

Egyptian wisdom

Prophecy

Mayan beliefs

Mythos

Angels

Alchemy

The Simply Blessed Reiki AcademyOur Reiki Academy began offering classes in 2014 and has become synonymous with traditional and thorough certified Reiki training. In 2015 we will continue to expand our Reiki certification courses and skill training. Simply Blessed Master/Teachers are certified instructors, registered with the three major International Reiki Associations. Our approach gives the student a solid foundation in Reiki practice and history while exposing the student to various expert points-of-view.

Our Reiki Academy offering includes workshops and certifications in:

Usui Reiki levels I, II, III

Angel Reiki levels I, II, III

Kundalini Reiki levels I, II

Family Reiki levels I, II

Animal Reiki level I

Crystal Energy Reiki level I

Reiki for Fitness level I

The Simply Blessed Holistic Healing Ministry ProgramOur Holistic Healing Ministry Program will prepare participants for Ordained Ministry focused on spiritual healing. Our founder, Tomas, is an ordained minister in apostolic succession and presiding minister of the Ecumenical Brothers and Sisters OPD. This non-denominational community formed in 2004 as a fellowship of believers who have come together to create a network of support for ministers who wish to engage in independent healing ministries. This year-long program is structured like an apprenticeship and will culminate in ordination as a healing minister licensed through the Ecumenical Brothers and Sisters OPD.

Who will be providing services at Simply Blessed Spiritual Wellness Center?As you surely already know, when you come to me for a spiritual session we form an energy connection that allows me to gain spiritual insight into your lives and helps me connect with your loved ones in heaven. This process is sacred to me. When I connect with each of you, the spiritual bond that forms comes with a certain spiritual obligation. If the Holy Spirit allows me to see into the depths of your soul, it becomes my role to help you and give you spiritual protection and healing. This all means that I am very protective of my clients. I look at each of you in the way a pastor looks at his flock. Because of this, I have taken great care to gather a circle of spiritual providers to help me bring this vision of Simply Blessed Spiritual Wellness Center to light. Each of the new providers shares my spiritual values and exhibits a strong desire to help bring healing and peace to our family of clients. I will work diligently to maintain strict standards concerning who will be admitted to the Simply Blessed family of service providers. Over the next few weeks we will publish biographies of our new providers. Will Tomas stop offering readings?The initial decision to market the business using the terms “psychic” or “magic” was in keeping with the plan to market the retail end of the business to retail consumers… What I do in “readings” with clients is a far cry from what the “fortune teller” or “boardwalk psychic” does. When a client comes to me for aprivate session, our goal is certainly not to engage in superstitious banter, but to help the client achieve some clarity in their lives. We focus on healing and spiritual growth. I will continue offering one-on-one and group spiritual conferences. You should know that I have never considered what I do to be the work of a “psychic-medium,” but a mystic. Instead, I have continued to do at Simply Blessed what I have done since entering ministry…bringing people into a closer relationship with the Spirit so that they are able to find peace and healing by experiencing the mystery of God in their lives. Sometimes this experience includes prophetic messages about the events coming up in someone’s life or healing messages from a loved one who has passed away. Over the years countless clients have been amazed at the specific and accurate communication I have been able to engage between living clients and their now passed away loved ones. What seems impossible during the “reading” is simply the action of the Holy Spirit from my point of view. I believe that everyone is able to hear and remain connected with their crossed-over loved ones. My goal is not to be your “psychic” but to help you connect with spirit as I do, so that eventually you won’t need me to connect you!

Anyone who has had a session with me will notice something right away: before any spiritual contact is made, I go through a series of “tests” to be sure that the communication is genuine and in line with the theology that I have studied as an ordained minister. If the spiritual communication can’t pass the scriptural tests, I will not engage the session. When the communication does pass the spiritual tests, I do my best to pray through the intercession of the Angels and bring messages from loved ones who have passed into eternity. The messages are sometimes so clear and precise that I believe that these messages are the will of God and the action of the Holy Spirit. As I often say when people are amazed at the communication, “I’m not that good…but God is. Stay connected to God and your loved ones will come through to you directly.”

These experiences are in line with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit according to the writing of Paul in the Christian scriptures. In I-Corinthians 12:8-10, the apostle provides us with a glimpse into what we can expect when one is under the influence of the Holy Spirit: expressions of wisdom beyond the normal experience of the speaker, expressions of knowledge that the person does not have through worldly means, great faith and the ability to inspire faith, powerful spiritual healing, miracles, the gift of prophecy, the ability to discern spirits, the ability to speak in the language of spirit (tongues) and the ability to interpret what spirit is saying.

I will continue to offer these “readings” which we will refer to as Private Spiritual Conferences.

Will you still offer any retail at all?Yes, we will continue to stock some items that will support our healing modalities. You’ll be able to find herbs, crystals, gemstones, and mineral specimens here (in fact you will find a better selection of crystals than we previously carried). We will also keep our selection of crystal jewelry. We will continue to stock our power candles and incense/smudging supplies. We limit our selection of books to include support information for self-healing.Do you have questions about the changes to Simply Blessed?Call us at 856-514-2222It has been my honor to serve you all over the past few years and I am happy that Spirit continues to bless the ministry of Simply Blessed. As we continue to evolve into a fully actualized entity, it is my prayer that each of you is blessed abundantly by the Divine Love that urges us toward wholeness and peace.With hope for the future, I am, +Tomas Martin Bell, OPD, RMT Owner, Presiding Minister Simply Blessed Spiritual Wellness Center

Monday, May 6, 2013

The Ecumenical Brothers and Sisters OPD is happy to announce the opening of theSimply Blessed gift shop. Our presiding minister is one of the co-founders of Simply Blessed, which will also serve as broadcasting base for the Circle of Angels Talk Radio program, also founded by Bishop Tomas. The Shop is slated to open in June 2013.

An excerpt from the web page of Simply Blessed:

Our little cottage offers gifts and information with Spirit! Natural and Holistic products for your body, mind, and spirit as well as products from around the world that make your day simply blessed! Featuring Angel Energy Rods and Reiki!

Simply Blessed was founded by Tomas Martin Bell, OPD to be a spiritual oasis and holistic gift shop for people of many faiths. Simply Blessed aims to provide products and services that remind people of the fact that every day is a blessing. Our little cottage is here for you through all the seasons of life. Whether you are celebrating the birth of a new member of the family, a wedding or hand-fasting, a new job or home, we will have a special gift for you bless the day.

Are you looking for a new spiritual path or ideas on how you can attain peace in your soul and in your home? We can help with books, products, and ideas to help. Are you going through a rough time, having spiritual doubt, or dealing with a loss in life? Our Angel Energy Rods can help you gain Spiritual insignt and Tomas will give you a one-on-one session to teach you how to gain this angelic insight. The Angels can help you as they have for countless others who have benefited from Tomas' training.

Are you looking for powerful Reiki? Tomas and his Reiki practitioners offer amazing Reiki that will help you on your path to spiritual peace.

Visit our little cottage and remind yourself that you are Simply Blessed! We hope to see you soon!

DisclaimerThe information and ideas you encounter at Simply Blessed are designed to be educational general information and not medical/psychiatric or psychological advice or coaching. Patronizing Simply Blessed is not intended to create a client-practitioner type of professional relationship and should not be understood as medical, psychological, coaching, or other advice. We are happy to help you learn how to use our spiritual products which are designed to help a person create their own spiritual growth plan. Participants who experience Simply Blessed products or informational services enter an ‘Agreement of Understanding’ having voluntarily chosen to patronize our store, agreeing to the terms set forth in this statement. Simply Blessed, and facilitators make no guarantee (or warranty) as to the results of the products and its impact on the lives of the participants. Participation in any promotional events (or sample programs) falls under the same general understanding.

Please be advised that spiritual readings cannot predict, forecast, diagnose or provide information with absolute certainty. No guarantees or assurances of any kind are given concerning readings. Readers and Simply Blessed are not accountable for any interpretations or decisions made by recipients based on information provided during experiences at our establishment. Spiritual Cards or Readings are for entertainment purposes only. For medical concerns, please consult with a physician. For legal matters, please contact an attorney or law enforcement.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Vatican News ServiceVatican City, 12 September 2012 (VIS) - During his general audience, held this morning in the Paul VI Hall, Benedict XVI focused his catechesis on prayer in the second part of the Book of Revelation in which, he noted, attention moves from the interior life of the Church "to the entire world, because the Church advances through history and is a part thereof".In this second part of Revelation, the Christian assembly is called "to undertake a profound interpretation of the history in which it lives, learning to discern events with faith so that, through its actions, it may collaborate in the advancement of the kingdom of God. Such interpretation, discernment and action are closely associated with prayer".The assembly is invited to ascend unto heaven "in order to see reality with the eyes of God". There, according to St. John's narrative, we find three symbols with which to interpret history: the throne, the scroll and the Lamb. On the throne sits Almighty God "Who has not remained isolated in heaven but has approached man and entered into a covenant with him". The scroll "contains God's plan for history and mankind, but it is hermetically sealed with seven seals and no one can read it. ... Yet there is a remedy to man's confusion before the mystery of history. Someone is able to open the scroll and illuminate him".That someone appears in the third symbol: "Christ, the Lamb, Who was immolated in the sacrifice of the cross but stands in sign of His resurrection. The Lamb, Christ, Who died and rose again, will progressively open the seals so as to reveal the plan of God, the profound meaning of history".These symbols, the Pope explained, "remind us of the path we must follow to interpret the events of history and of our own lives. Raising our gaze to God's heaven in an unbroken relationship with Christ, ... in individual and community prayer, we learn to see things in a new way and to grasp their most authentic significance". The Lord invites the Christian community "to a realistic examination of the present time in which they are living. The Lamb then opens the first four seals of the scroll and the Church sees the world of which she is part; a world containing ... the evils accomplished by man, such as violence ... and injustice, ... to which must be added the evils man suffers such as death, hunger, and sickness".

"In the face of these often dramatic issues the ecclesial community is invited never to lose hope, but to remain firm in the belief that the apparent omnipotence of the Evil One in fact comes up against true omnipotence, that of God". St. John speaks of the white horse, which symbolises that "the power of God has entered man's history, a power capable not only of counterbalancing evil, but also of overcoming it. ... God became so close as to descend into the darkness of death and illuminate it with the splendour of divine life. He took the evil of the world upon Himself to purify it with the fire of His love".The Holy Father went on: "How can we progress in this Christian interpretation of reality? The Book of Revelation tells us that prayer nourishes this vision of light and profound hope in each one of us and in our communities. ... The Church lives in history, she is not closed in herself but courageously faces her journey amidst difficulties and sufferings, forcefully affirming that evil does not defeat good, that darkness does not shade God's splendour. This is an important point for us too: as Christians we can never be pessimists. ... Prayer, above all, educates us to see the signs of God, His presence and His action; or rather, it educates us to become lights of goodness, spreading hope and indicating that the victory is God's".At the end of the vision an angel places grains of incense in a censer then throws it upon the earth. Those grains represent our prayers, the Pope said. "and we can be sure that there is no such thing as a superfluous or useless prayer. No prayer is lost. ... God is not oblivious to our prayers. ... When faced with evil we often have the sensation that we can do nothing, but our prayers are in fact the first and most effective response we can give, they strengthen our daily commitment to goodness. The power of God makes our weakness strong".

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Our walk in the desert is over! After eight years of living the life of Love, we commit to reaching the next stage in our evolution! Please see the attached letter from our presiding minister and bishop. The text of the letter can be found below the image. Our June 2012 annual meeting will be of great value and importance to our path towards resurrection!

New formation material will be distributed after the June gathering. Bishop has asked that all reference to sacrifice be removed from your local training materials. If you have any questions, contact me directly at OPDcommunications@live.com-Br. John M, OPD

May 21, 2012

Brothers and Sisters,

We have heard it said that it is the Word of God that brings light to the heart. Word, in our tradition is not just important, but Divine. It is because of this idea that today we change our words to more closely mirror the image of the Divine. Our Community has been known as the Order of Penance of Saint Dominic because we came out from the Order formed by the idea of Dominic de Guzman, founder of the Order of Preachers of the Roman way. This year marks the eighth year of our inception. Like our founder, symbolized by the eight-pointed star, we represent oneness, peace, and divinity in the world. The idea of penance is foreign to us although we chose the title Order of Penance as homage to our founder and to the generations of men and women who gave their lives to perpetuate the mission of the preacher of Love.

In these last few years we have listened closely to the Voice of Love and followed the path of Love as we have continued to do the work of evolution…putting out into the deep of Life so that we may return to our source with Love unbound, ready for the next stage of existence. We are ready now to stand firmly on the foundation of Love. We are ready now to come into our own.

We reject the idea that suffering is of value. We reject the idea that a Loving Divinity would ask us to suffer. We reject the idea that a Loving Divinity would ask its own creation to suffer in order to gain eternal life. We repent of our former belief in a God that permits His own Son to suffer unjustly for the failings of others. No loving parent would permit this. Therefore no loving Divinity can abide in this idea.

Today we pronounce with the power of God’s own voice a new name for our Community and with it freedom from suffering and penance. We have walked the path set out for us in all humility. Now we walk our own path of oneness, peace, and divinity. We lay down the idea of penance and take up the idea of Peace. We are the OPD. We stand for Oneness, Peace, Divinity.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

We are pleased to announce that our newest satellite chapter has begun serving the community at large. Our own Presiding Minister and Prior General, Br. Tomas Martin Bell, OPD is providing one-on-one Spiritual conferences through the Tranquil Oasis chapter. We look forward to seeing all of the wonderful programs offered by Tranquil Oasis Holistic Living Community! Click here to see the new information site.

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The statue of Saint Martin de Porres at the Dominican Monastery in Union City, NJ.

Do you feel the Call?

Many lay people feel the call to live a life of deeper holiness, but few know that there is a way to answer that call while remaining in the lay state. Brothers and Sisters of the Order of Penance (OPD) are married and single, some may live in community while others live in their family home or on their own. Communities like this have come to be called "Secular Religious Communities." If you would like more information on the life of a member of the OPDclick here to see the information site of the New Jersey Chapter.